HDC MidAtlantic to celebrate renovations in Bellefonte

On June 21, HDC MidAtlantic will hold a rededication ceremony in honor of renovations being completed at Governor’s Gate Apartments, located at 405 Governors Park Road in Bellefonte.

The Lancaster company purchased the 80,093-square-foot apartment complex in 2010, and it was awarded a $4.7 million tax credit equity from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency in June 2014. The renovations to the residential buildings, which included multiple interior and exterior upgrades, began in December 2014 and were officially completed a year later. A new 2,048-square-foot community building was completed in February and features management and supportive services, two fully accessible bathrooms, a kitchenette, common laundry facilities and 88 square feet of community space for residents.

“Centre County has a critically low supply of affordable housing, especially when we look at affordable family housing,” HDC MidAtlantic Director of Real Estate Development Claude Hicks said in a statement. “The renovations that HDC MidAtlantic oversaw at Governor’s Gate Apartments will preserve 66 affordable homes for rent to working families, aging parents and grandparents, and our friends and neighbors living with disabilities.”

Digital Access For Only $0.99

Bellefonte Mayor Tom Wilson and Centre County Commissioners Steve Dershem, Michael Pipe and Mark Higgins will be in attendance at the event. Mark Long, a staff member of Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, will also attend. Hicks and Pipe will both make remarks.

Several of the renovations are geared toward increased energy efficiency. According to Hope Frick, a marketing assistant with the company, solar photovaltaic arrays were installed on the new community building besides each of the three residential buildings. HDC MidAtlantic also furnished common areas with LED lighting, while switching out apartment refrigerators for EnergyStar-rated alternatives. Other additions include EnergyStar-rated windows and water-saving devices to cut down costs.

The property is home to 114 residents.

Palates and plates

Dionysus has touched down.

The owners of The Greek Restaurant, located at 102 Clinton Ave. in State College, and the University Wine Co. announced the opening of the Wine Bar in The Greek Restaurant, set to serve its first sips to customers on Monday. The celebration, which includes a wine tasting, will start at 5 p.m.

“Wine complements food very well, which is why I think it will be a great partnership between us and the restaurant,” University Wine Co. President Jeff Proch said. “I think wine is meant to be consumed with food and with friends.”

Customers will be able to sample wines such as the sweet Spring Break or the light but dry Red Zone. Proch hopes to have at least 10 wines available by opening day, he said. Whites and reds, both sweet and dry, will be behind the bar as will semi-dry and semi-sweet wines. Sangria, Riesling and Chardonnay are a few examples.

“We are looking forward to a wonderful relationship,” The Greek’s owner John Dimakopoulis said in a release. “This allows us to offer our customers an added convenience. Both The Greek and University Wine Co. are family-owned businesses that can support one another.”

Math versus polymath

Calculus and its cohorts recently added one more adversary.

Tutor Doctor, an in-home tutoring service, opened a State College branch on Friday. Owner Kevin Price, who previously worked in the insurance industry, saw a need for the one-on-one attention and tailored content the service provides, according to a release.

“State College students stand to gain significant value from Tutor Doctor,” Price said in a release. “We look forward to assisting students in achieving their educational goals with programs that are specifically designed to fit the needs of each individual.”

The company, founded in 2000, has offices in Canada, Latin America, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, Africa and the U.S.